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Mobile Game Boy Adapter: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Mobile Adapter GB.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Box art of the Mobile Adapter GB hardware]]
{{Incomplete|article|Appearance in [[Pokémon Adventures]] manga (used by {{adv|Crystal}})}}
The '''Mobile Adapter GB''' (Japanese: '''モバイルアダプタGB''') is a peripheral for the [[Game Boy Color]], released on January 27, 2001 which allows players to connect to compatible Japanese phones. It was never released outside of Japan. The peripheral was part of a service known as "{{pkmn|Mobile System GB}}" (モバイルシステムGB) in which compatible games would use the Mobile Adapter GB for wireless play across the nation via the now defunct "gameboy.datacenter.ne.jp" server, that was hosted by [[Nintendo Network Service Development]]. {{wp|KDDI Corporation}} was the internet service provider of the network. The peripheral was a collaboration between Nintendo and {{wp|Mobile21}}; a company that was jointly owned between Nintendo and {{wp|Konami}}.
[[File:Mobile Adapter GB.jpg|thumb|Boxart of the Mobile Game Boy Adapter package]]
The '''Mobile Game Boy Adapter'''<ref>[http://personaltrainerwalking.com/iwata-asks/section-1.html Iwata Asks - Personal Trainer: Walking] ([https://archive.is/o56o4 archived copy])</ref> (Japanese: '''{{j|モバイルアダプタＧＢ}}''' ''Mobile Adapter GB'') is a peripheral for the [[Game Boy Color]], [[Game Boy Advance]], and [[Game Boy Advance SP]] which allows players to connect to compatible Japanese mobile phones. The peripheral was a collaboration between [[Nintendo]] and {{wp|Mobile21}}, a company that was jointly owned by Nintendo and {{wp|Konami}}.


The package was bundled with the original Mobile Adapter GB itself, which was a blue cable that could be used to connect to Japanese cell-phones. Included with the Mobile Adapter GB is the "Mobile Trainer" (Japanese: モバイルトレーナー) cartridge, that only boots up when the Mobile Adapter GB is connected to a compatible Japanse phone. A special edition of the Mobile Adapter GB came packaged with {{smw|Mobile Golf}}, which was a spin-off to the {{smw|Mario Golf}} series used to test the Mobile Adapter GB. After the Mobile Adapter GB's release, different colored cables were sold separately which allows the player to connect to different types of phones, one of which was announced but never released.
It was first released on January 27, 2001 (originally planned for December 2000<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/articles/mobile-adapter-gb-delayed/1100-2646818/ Mobile Adapter GB Delayed - GameSpot] ([https://archive.is/PghDy archived copy])</ref><ref>[http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2000/110100c.html Game Boy Mobile Adapter Delayed] ([https://archive.is/uur96 archived copy])</ref>) with a recommended retail price of ¥5800, before a price cut to ¥3800 from July 19, 2001.<ref>[http://maru-chang.com/hard/gb/ {{j|DMG/MGB/CGB： ゲームボーイ}}]</ref> By late March 2001, {{wp|Nihon Keizai Shimbun|Nikkei}} reported that Nintendo had only sold 80,000 units; the reason provided was that the only game to extensively use the Mobile Game Boy Adapter at the time was {{game|Crystal}}, which was targeted at a younger audience whom may not have access to a mobile phone.<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/30/low-numbers-for-mobile-adapter-gb Low Numbers for Mobile Adapter GB - IGN] ([https://archive.is/baaR7 archived copy])</ref>


The Mobile Adapter GB was first released with a recommended retail price of ¥5800, before a price cut to ¥3800 from July 19, 2001.<ref>[http://maru-chang.com/hard/gb/english.htm Game Boy/Color hardware information]</ref> Despite its promises, the service was not much of a commercial success and closed down in December 14, 2002 probably due to its high price, and the very few number of games that supported it. The closure of the Mobile System GB service makes it impossible for players to link to the server, however, it is still possible to link with friends provided that a {{wp|peer-to-peer}} network is used.
==Mobile System GB==
{{right clear}}
{{main|Mobile System GB}}
As a part of a service known as '''Mobile System GB''' (Japanese: '''{{j|モバイルシステムＧＢ}}''' ''Mobile System GB''), the Mobile Game Boy Adapter provided the hardware to compatible games, which used the network for wireless play across the nation via the now defunct <code>gameboy.datacenter.ne.jp</code> {{wp|Server (computing)|server}}, hosted by [[Nintendo Network Service Development]]. {{wp|KDDI}} was the internet service provider of the Mobile System GB's network. The most well-known Mobile System GB is the [[Mobile System GB]] used in the Japanese releases of {{game|Crystal}} and {{g|Stadium 2}}.


==Cables==
Despite its promises, the service was not much of a commercial success and closed down on December 14, 2002,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030202092916/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/n07/ {{j|モバイルシステムＧＢ}}]</ref> probably due to the additional costs involved and the target audience of its biggest user (Pokémon Crystal) being off-limits. The closure of the Mobile System GB service makes it impossible for players to link to the server; however, it is still possible to link with friends provided that a {{wp|peer-to-peer}} network is used.
In addition to the blue Mobile Adapter GB cable, three other cables were announced. All of which were sold separately, apart from the green adapter, which was never released. They all allowed the player to connect to different types of phones.


*Blue: This is the original cable packaged with the Mobile System GB. It allows the player to connect to a digital cell phone terminal PDC. The cable allowed for a maximum exchange rate of 9600bps.
==Package==
*Yellow: This cable allows the player to connect to a cdmaone portable telephone with a maximum exchange rate of 14.4kbps.
The package was bundled with the original Mobile Game Boy Adapter itself, which was a blue cable that could be used to connect to compatible Japanese mobile phones. Included with the Mobile Game Boy Adapter is the "Mobile Trainer" cartridge, that only boots up when the Mobile Game Boy Adapter is connected to a compatible Japanese mobile phone. A special edition of the Mobile Game Boy Adapter came packaged with {{smw|Mobile Golf}}, which was a spin-off to the {{smw|Mario Golf (series)|Mario Golf}} series used to test the Mobile Game Boy Adapter. After the Mobile Game Boy Adapter's release, different colored cables were sold separately which allows the player to connect to different types of phones, one of which was announced but never released.
*Red: This cable allows the player to connect to a DDI Pocket Telephone with a maximum exchange rate of 36.6kbps.
*Green: This cable was going to support {{wp|Personal Handy-phone System|PHS devices}} from Astel and {{wp|NTT DoCoMo}}, but the cable was ultimately never released.


==List of compatible software==
===Cables===
Below is a list of all known Game Boy Color and [[Game Boy Advance]] software which supported the Mobile System GB.<ref>[http://www.geocities.jp/rikkyjp/ope/gbgame.html Rikkyjp - mobile compatible software]</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20021129025321/http://www.nintendo.co.jp/n07/schedule/index.html Nintendo.co.jp (2002) archive. Scheduled dates for the closure of Mobile System GB services]</ref>
In addition to the blue Mobile Game Boy Adapter cable, three other cables were announced, all of which were sold separately, apart from the green adapter, which was never released. They all allowed the player to connect to different types of phones.
 
* Blue: the original cable packaged with the Mobile Game Boy Adapter. Supports connections to a digital cell phone terminal {{wp|Personal Digital Cellular|PDC}}. The cable allowed for a maximum {{wp|bit rate}} of 9600 bits per second (bps).
* Yellow: this cable connects to a {{wp|IS-95|cdmaOne}} mobile phone, allowing for a maximum bit rate of 14.4 kilobits per second (kbps).
* Red: this cable connects to a {{wp|Direct inward dialing|DDI}} mobile phone, with a maximum bit rate of 36.6 kilobits per second (kbps).
* Green: this cable would have support {{wp|Personal Handy-phone System|PHS devices}} from Astel and {{wp|NTT DoCoMo}}, but it was ultimately never released.


*Mobile Trainer (GBC) (Japanese:モバイルトレーナー) ([[Denyusha|MissingLink]]/Nintendo)
<gallery>
*{{game|Crystal}} (GBC) (Japanese: ポケットモンスター　クリスタルバージョン) ([[Game Freak]]/Nintendo) - defunct as of 14 December 2002.
Mobile Adapter unit.png|The blue-cable adapter connecting a mobile phone to a Game Boy Color
*{{wp|Napoleon (GBA game)|Napoleon}} (GBA) (Japanese: ナポレオン) ({{wp|Genki}}/Nintendo) - defunct as of 14 December 2002.
Mobile Adapter GB cables.png|The different cables as seen in a [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri6zKoyoniU commercial]
*{{smw|Mobile Golf}} (GBC) (Japanese: モバイルゴルフ) ({{wp|Camelot Software Planning}}/Nintendo) - defunct as of 14 December 2002.
</gallery>
*{{ww|Game Boy Wars 3}} (GBC) (Japanese: ゲームボーイウォーズ３) ({{wp|Hudson Soft}}/Nintendo)
*Mail de Cute (GBC) (Japanese: メールでキュート) {{wp|Mobile21}}/{{wp|Konami}}
*Hello Kitty: Happy House (GBC) (Japanese: ハローキティのハッピーハウス) ({{wp|MTO}})
*{{smw|Mario Kart: Super Circuit}} (GBA) (Japanese: マリオカートアドバンス, Mario Kart Advance)
*Horse Racing Creating Derby<ref>[http://uk.gameboy.ign.com/articles/135/135427p1.html IGN preview for Horce Racing Creating Derby]</ref> (GBA) (Japanese: {{tt|馬穴大作戦|Baketsu Daisakusen}})<ref>[http://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2001/01/19/cs11.html Famitsu - Coming Soon: Baketsu Daisakusen]</ref> <ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20010331045147/http://www.gameboy.com/horseracing/index.html Baketsu Daisakusen (Horse Racing Game) at Gameboy.com (archived page from 2001)]</ref> - cancelled.
*beatmaniaGB Net Jam (GBC) (Japanese: beatmaniaGB ネットジャム) - cancelled.
*Japan GT Championship (GBA) (Japanese: 全日本GT選手権) ({{wp|Vision Works}}/{{wp|Kemco}})
*{{wp|Silent Hill: Play Novel}} (GBA) (Japanese: プレイノベル サイレントヒル) ({{wp|Konami}})
*{{wp|Daisenryaku}} for Game Boy Advance (GBA) (Japanese: 大戦略　For　ゲームボーイアドバンス) ({{wp|SystemSoft Alpha}}/{{wp|MediaKite}})
*{{wp|Doraemon}}: Midori no Wakusei Doki Doki Daikyuushuutsu! (GBA) (Japanese: ドラえもん　緑の惑星ドキドキ大脱出！) ({{wp|Mobile21}}/{{wp|Epoch Co.|Epoch}})
*Monster Guardians (GBA) (Japanese: モンスターガーディアンズ) ({{wp|Mobile21}}/{{wp|Konami}})
*Net de Get Minigames @100 (GBC) (Japanese: ネットでゲット ミニゲーム@100) ({{wp|Mobile21}}/{{wp|Konami}})
*Zero Tours (GBA) (Japanese: ゼロ・ツアーズ) ({{wp|Amedio}}/{{wp|Media Rings}})
*Sutakomi: Star Communicator (GBA) (Japanese: スタコミ Star★Communicator) ({{wp|Konami}})
*{{wp|Kinniku Banzuke}} ~Kongou-Kun no Daibouken~ (GBA) (Japanese: 筋肉番付～金剛くんの大冒険～) ({{wp|KCE Studios}}/{{wp|Konami}})
*{{wp|List of shogi video games#Game Boy Advance|Morita Shogi Advance}} (GBA) (Japanese: 森田将棋あどばんす) ({{wp|Yuki Enterprise}}/{{wp|Hudson Soft}})
*EX Monopoly (GBA) (Japanese: ＥＸモノポリー) ({{wp|Mobile21}}/{{wp|Takara}})
*Exciting Bass (GBA) (Japanese: エキサイティング　バス) ({{wp|Konami}})
*JGTO Golf Master Mobile (GBA) (Japanese: JGTO公認　GOLF MASTER　モバイル) ({{wp|Konami}})
*Mobile Pro Baseball (GBA) (Japanese: モバイルプロ野球: 監督の采配) ({{wp|Mobile21}}/{{wp|Konami}})


==Mobile Trainer==
===Mobile Trainer===
[[File:Mobile Trainer cartridge.png|thumb|right|The Mobile Trainer cartridge]]
[[File:Mobile Trainer cartridge.png|thumb|right|The Mobile Trainer cartridge]]
Mobile Trainer (Japanese: モバイルトレーナー) is a cartridge which comes packaged with the Mobile Adapter GB itself, developed by MissingLink, the parent company of [[Denyusha]].<ref>[http://www.shadowflare.us/about.htm MissingLink company information]</ref> Prior to its release it was previously given the tentative name "Mobile Starter Cartridge" (Japanese: モバイルスターターカートリッジ).<ref>[http://www.geocities.jp/rikkyjp/ope/trainer.html Rikkyjp - Mobile Trainer]</ref> When the player boots up the cartridge, a connection screen checks whether the Mobile Adapter GB is connected. The software will progress past the loading screen only once connected to a Japanese phone. The cartridge offered an e-mail system in which users could exchange text messages between each other. Another feature of the Mobile Trainer cartridge was access to the Mobile System GB homepage, which published featured articles around different compatible titles. It would publish information about updates to the Pokémon News Machine and data from the Mobile Stadium.
'''Mobile Trainer''' (Japanese: '''{{j|モバイルトレーナー}}''' ''Mobile Trainer'') is a cartridge which came packaged with the Mobile Adapter GB itself, developed by MissingLink, the parent company of [[Denyusha]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131127002232/http://shadowflare.us/about.htm ShadowFlare]</ref> Prior to its release, it was previously given the tentative name of '''Mobile Starter Cartridge''' (Japanese: '''{{j|モバイルスターターカートリッジ}}''' ''Mobile Starter Cartridge'').<ref>[http://www.geocities.jp/rikkyjp/ope/trainer.html {{j|モバイルトレーナー}}]</ref> The cartridge served as a general guide to the Mobile System GB, which included a help menu about how to use the service and a glossary of key terms. Under a mobile settings menu, the player was able to alter their registration details, and confirm their remaining balance.


The cartridge served as a general guide to the Mobile System GB, which included a help menu about how to use the service and a glossary of key terms. Under a mobile settings menu, the player was able to alter their registration details, and confirm their remaining balance.  
When the player boots up the cartridge, a connection screen checks whether the Mobile Game Boy Adapter is connected. The software will progress past the loading screen only once connected to a compatible Japanese mobile phone. The cartridge offered an {{wp|email}} system in which users could exchange text messages between each other. Another feature of the Mobile Trainer cartridge was access to the Mobile System GB homepage, which published featured articles around different compatible titles.


Within the coding of the Mobile Trainer cartridge exist graphics for Pokémon such as {{p|Pikachu}}, {{p|Porygon2}} and {{p|Tyranitar}}. The purposes of these graphics are currently unknown. It may be of note that Tyranitar uses an art style which more closely resembles its [[Prototype Pokémon and characters|artwork]] from the early development of {{2v2|Gold|Silver}}.
In the internal data of the Mobile Trainer ROM, graphics for {{OBP|Pokémon|species}} such as (but not limited to) {{p|Pikachu}}, {{p|Porygon2}} and {{p|Tyranitar}} have been found, as well as [[Easter egg#Other Easter eggs|a test message about an alleged 'Pokémon game' which was never released known as Pokémon Moss (Japanese: ポケットモンスター苔)]]. The purposes of these graphics are unknown.


{{youtubevid|tY8CdSJCez8|ChickasaurusGL|crystal}}
(Hidden Pokémon content covered in below video at 28:48)


==Pokémon Mobile System GB==
{{YouTubeEmbed|XMmfa1OwqPs|channel/UCZz2ixp-5T6VeAPtAMQ5v5Q|name=ChickasaurusGL|Water}}
{{main|Pokémon Mobile System GB}}


The most well-received division of the service was perhaps the [[Pokémon Mobile System GB]] service used in the Japanese version {{game|Crystal}} up to when the whole Mobile System GB service went defunct in December 14, 2002. When the player successfully connects Pokémon Crystal to the Mobile Adapter GB and a Japanese cell-phone, the "Mobile System GB" logo is shown, and two options are added to the start-up menu including "Mobile" (モバイル), and "Mobile Stadium" (モバイルスタジアム), this grants the player access to the {{jo|Battle Tower}}, Mobile Stadium, and the services within the [[Pokémon Communication Center]].<ref>[http://www.geocities.jp/rikkyjp/ope/pokemonc.html Rikkyjp - Pokémon Crystal]</ref>
==List of compatible software==
Below is a list of all [[Game Boy Color]] and [[Game Boy Advance]] software which supported the Mobile System GB.<ref>[http://www.geocities.jp/rikkyjp/ope/gbgame.html {{j|モバイルシステムGB対応ソフト}}]</ref> Although five of these games ({{game|Crystal}}, {{wp|Napoleon (video game)|Napoleon}}, {{wp|Top Gear GT Championship}}, {{smw|Mario Kart: Super Circuit}}, and ESPN Great Outdoor Games Bass 2002) were released outside of Japan, only the Japanese versions were compatible with the Mobile Adapter.


Some of the available services included national "PokéCom" link trades available through the main Pokémon Communication Center building (akin to the [[Global Terminal#Global Trade Station|GTS]]) and wireless Battle Tower battles for a small price on the player's phone in which the player could possibly be accepted as a "room leader" if they battled well enough.
{| style="{{roundy|10px}}; border: 2px solid #777; background: #CCC; margin-right: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px"
! style="{{roundytl|5px}}; background: #EEE" | Title
! style="background: #EEE" | Console
! style="background: #EEE" | Developer
! style="background: #EEE" | Publisher
! style="{{roundytr|5px}}; background: #EEE" | Release date
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| [[Pokémon Crystal Version]] <br/> ({{j|ポケットモンスター クリスタルバージョン}} ''Pocket Monsters: Crystal Version'')
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| [[Game Freak]]
| [[Nintendo]]
| December 14, 2000
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Mobile Trainer ({{j|モバイルトレーナー}})
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| [[Denyusha|MissingLink]]
| [[Nintendo]]
| January 27, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Monster Guardians ({{j|モンスターガーディアンズ}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Mobile21}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| March 21, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{wp|Napoleon (video game)|Napoleon}} ({{j|ナポレオン}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Genki (company)|Genki}}
| [[Nintendo]]
| March 21, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{wp|Silent Hill (video game)|Play Novel: Silent Hill}} ({{j|プレイノベル サイレントヒル}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Konami}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| March 21, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{wp|Top Gear GT Championship}} <br/> ({{j|{{tt|全日本ＧＴ選手権|ぜんにほんＧＴせんしゅけん}}}} ''All-Japan GT Championship'')
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| Vision Works
| {{wp|Kemco}}
| March 21, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{wp|Doraemon}}: Midori no Wakusei Doki Doki Daikyūshūtsu! ({{j|ドラえもん {{tt|緑の惑星|みどりのわくせい}}ドキドキ{{tt|大脱出|だいきゅうしゅうつ}}！}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Mobile21}}
| {{wp|Epoch Co.|Epoch}}
| April 27, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{smw|Mobile Golf}} ({{j|モバイルゴルフ}})
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| {{wp|Camelot Software Planning|Camelot}}
| [[Nintendo]]
| May 11, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Morita Shōgi Advance ({{j|{{tt|森田将棋あどばんす|もりたしょうぎあどばんす}}}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| Yuki Enterprise
| {{wp|Hudson Soft}}
| July 12, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Net de Get Minigames @100 ({{j|ネットでゲットミニゲーム@１００}})
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| {{wp|Mobile21}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| July 12, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| EX {{wp|Monopoly (game)|Monopoly}} ({{j|ＥＸモノポリー}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Mobile21}}
| {{wp|Takara}}
| July 13, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{smw|Mario Kart: Super Circuit}} <br/> ({{j|マリオカートアドバンス}} ''Mario Kart Advance'')
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Intelligent Systems}}
| [[Nintendo]]
| July 21, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{wp|Japan Golf Tour|JGTO}} Licensed: Golfmaster Mobile ({{j|JGTO{{tt|公認|こうけん}} GOLFMASTERモバイル}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Konami}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| July 26, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{wp|Kinniku Banzuke}} ~Kongō-kun no Daibōken!~ ({{j|{{tt|筋肉番付～金剛くんの大冒険！～|きんにくばんずけ～こんごうくんのだいぼうけん！～}}}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Konami|KCE Studios}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| July 26, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Mobile Pro Baseball: Control Baton ({{j|{{tt|モバイルプロ野球 監督の采配|モバイルプロやきゅう　かんとくのさいはい}}}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Mobile21}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| July 26, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Starcom: Star Communicator ({{j|スタコミ STAR★COMMUNICATOR}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Konami}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| July 26, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Zero-Tours ({{j|ゼロ・ツアーズ}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| Amedio
| {{wp|Media Rings}}
| July 27, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{ww|Game Boy Wars 3}} ({{j|ゲームボーイウォーズ３}})
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| {{wp|Hudson Soft}}
| [[Nintendo]]
| August 30, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| ESPN Great Outdoor Games Bass 2002 <br/> ({{j|エキサイティングバス}} ''Exciting Bass'')
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Konami}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| November 29, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Daisenryaku For Game Boy Advance ({{j|{{tt|大戦略|だいせんりゃく}} For ゲームボーイアドバンス}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|SystemSoft Alpha}}
| Media Kite
| December 7, 2001
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Mail de Cute ({{j|メールでキュート}})
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| {{wp|Mobile21}}
| {{wp|Konami}}
| February 14, 2002
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| Hello Kitty: Happy House ({{j|ハローキティのハッピーハウス}})
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| {{wp|MTO (video game company)|MTO}}
| {{wp|MTO (video game company)|MTO}}
| March 2, 2002
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| {{wp|beatmania}}GB Net Jam ({{j|beatmaniaGBネットジャム}})
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| {{wp|Konami}}
| —
| Cancelled
|- style="background:#FFFFFF"
| style="{{roundybl|5px}}" | Horse Racing Creating Derby ({{j|{{tt|馬穴大作戦|ばけつだいさくせん}}}})<ref>[http://uk.gameboy.ign.com/articles/135/135427p1.html Horse Racing Creating Derby - IGN]</ref><ref>[https://www.famitsu.com/game/coming/2001/01/19/cs11.html {{j|ファミ通.com ゲーム/馬穴大作戦}}]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010331045147/http://www.gameboy.com/horseracing/index.html Game Boy.com - Baketsu Daisakusen (Horse Racing Game)]</ref>
| [[Game Boy Advance]]
| [[Nintendo]]
| —
| style="{{roundybr|5px}}" | Cancelled
|}


The services relied heavily on the data the player would input into the "Mobile" option. The "Mobile" option brought the player to the [[Card Folder]] (a pre-cursor to the [[Pal Pad]] and [[easy chat system]]), in which the player could input profile information and share their phone numbers with a number of friends. This data would be used for purposes such as Battle Tower data, and the Pokémon News Machine, which was a service updated monthly that would broadcast news and compile the data of other players across Japan. As well as broadcasting news, the Pokémon News Machine also served as an interface in which the player could play minigames and participate in quizzes.
==Similar devices==
The Mobile Game Boy Adapter was not the first [[Game Boy]] peripheral offering {{wp|Online and offline|online}} play. From as early as March 6, 1998, {{wp|Hudson Soft}}'s [http://nectaris.tg-16.com/GB-KISS-LINK-FAQ-hudson-gameboy-nectaris.html GB Kiss] Link Modem allowed players to access downloadable content from the Internet and send messages between friends, through a number of compatible games which had built-in {{wp|Consumer IR|infrared}} ports, such as {{wp|Nectaris series|Nectaris GB}}, the Japanese versions of {{wp|Robopon Sun, Star, and Moon Versions|Robopon}} for the [[Game Boy Color]], as well as the GB Kiss Minigames cartridge which came packaged with the GB Kiss Link Modem. The Link Modem was available through mail order.


The most influential event was held in April and May 2001, and allowed the player to obtain a [[GS Ball]] to capture {{p|Celebi}} at the [[Ilex Forest]] shrine after giving it to [[Kurt]] for inspection. The event involved the player obtaining 16 [[badge]]s, before successfully completing the "Chieko Dice" minigame three times in a row and successfully answering the "ten card quiz" via the Pokémon News Machine.<ref>[http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~kakeru/pokemon2/mobile/ Text dump of Pokémon News Machine event data]</ref><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20020708151316/http://www.geocities.com/meowth346/gs/faq/legendary/faq_Celebi.htm Celebi FAQ by Meowth346 (2002 archive)]</ref>
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
Another use of the Card Folder allowed for up to 10 minute battles and trades with contacts via the second floor of any [[Pokémon Center]]. The battles could be saved on Pokémon Crystal, to later be uploaded to the Mobile Stadium.
 
===Mobile Stadium===
The Mobile Stadium (Japanese: モバイルスタジアム) is an interface which allows players to upload videos of timed battles with friends on to Japanese versions of {{g|Stadium 2}} via the [[Transfer Pak]]. In {{game|Crystal}}, the "Mobile Stadium" appears on the start-up menu after connecting with the Mobile Adapter GB at least once. When the player uploaded a video on to Pokémon Stadium 2, it can then be played back through a mode of the same name in full 3D on Pokémon Stadium 2. A similar function is fulfilled by the [[Vs. Recorder]] in {{v2|Platinum}}, {{2v2|HeartGold|SoulSilver|}}.


The aforementioned video is a battle from the third match of a national cup tournament that was hosted in 2000, uploaded on to Pokémon Stadium 2's Mobile Stadium mode:
==External links==
 
* [http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0101/ {{j|任天堂マガジン表紙・2001年1月号（No.29）}}]
{{youtubevid|E0Gkm7BN8JY|sunnks|silver}}
* [http://www.nintendo.co.jp/nom/0107/ {{j|任天堂マガジン表紙・2001年７月号（No.36）}}]
 
==Trivia==
*The Mobile Adapter GB was not the first Game Boy peripheral offering online play. From as early as March 6, 1998 [[wikipedia:Hudson Soft|Hudson Soft]]'s [http://nectaris.tg-16.com/GB-KISS-LINK-FAQ-hudson-gameboy-nectaris.html GB Kiss] Link Modem allowed players to access downloadable content from the Internet and send messages between friends, through a number of compatible games which had built in [[wikipedia:infrared|infrared]] ports, such as [[wikipedia:Nectaris series|Nectaris GB]], the Japanese versions of [[wikipedia:Robopon Sun, Star, and Moon Versions|Robopon]] for the Game Boy Color, as well as the GB Kiss Minigames cartridge which came packaged with the GB Kiss Link Modem. It was available through mail order.
 
==References==
<references/>


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Revision as of 12:49, 27 December 2020

050Diglett.png This article is incomplete.
Please feel free to edit this article to add missing information and complete it.
Reason: Appearance in Pokémon Adventures manga (used by Crystal)
Boxart of the Mobile Game Boy Adapter package

The Mobile Game Boy Adapter[1] (Japanese: モバイルアダプタＧＢ Mobile Adapter GB) is a peripheral for the Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and Game Boy Advance SP which allows players to connect to compatible Japanese mobile phones. The peripheral was a collaboration between Nintendo and Mobile21, a company that was jointly owned by Nintendo and Konami.

It was first released on January 27, 2001 (originally planned for December 2000[2][3]) with a recommended retail price of ¥5800, before a price cut to ¥3800 from July 19, 2001.[4] By late March 2001, Nikkei reported that Nintendo had only sold 80,000 units; the reason provided was that the only game to extensively use the Mobile Game Boy Adapter at the time was Pokémon Crystal, which was targeted at a younger audience whom may not have access to a mobile phone.[5]

Mobile System GB

Main article: Mobile System GB

As a part of a service known as Mobile System GB (Japanese: モバイルシステムＧＢ Mobile System GB), the Mobile Game Boy Adapter provided the hardware to compatible games, which used the network for wireless play across the nation via the now defunct gameboy.datacenter.ne.jp server, hosted by Nintendo Network Service Development. KDDI was the internet service provider of the Mobile System GB's network. The most well-known Mobile System GB is the Mobile System GB used in the Japanese releases of Pokémon Crystal and Pokémon Stadium 2.

Despite its promises, the service was not much of a commercial success and closed down on December 14, 2002,[6] probably due to the additional costs involved and the target audience of its biggest user (Pokémon Crystal) being off-limits. The closure of the Mobile System GB service makes it impossible for players to link to the server; however, it is still possible to link with friends provided that a peer-to-peer network is used.

Package

The package was bundled with the original Mobile Game Boy Adapter itself, which was a blue cable that could be used to connect to compatible Japanese mobile phones. Included with the Mobile Game Boy Adapter is the "Mobile Trainer" cartridge, that only boots up when the Mobile Game Boy Adapter is connected to a compatible Japanese mobile phone. A special edition of the Mobile Game Boy Adapter came packaged with Mobile Golf, which was a spin-off to the Mario Golf series used to test the Mobile Game Boy Adapter. After the Mobile Game Boy Adapter's release, different colored cables were sold separately which allows the player to connect to different types of phones, one of which was announced but never released.

Cables

In addition to the blue Mobile Game Boy Adapter cable, three other cables were announced, all of which were sold separately, apart from the green adapter, which was never released. They all allowed the player to connect to different types of phones.

  • Blue: the original cable packaged with the Mobile Game Boy Adapter. Supports connections to a digital cell phone terminal PDC. The cable allowed for a maximum bit rate of 9600 bits per second (bps).
  • Yellow: this cable connects to a cdmaOne mobile phone, allowing for a maximum bit rate of 14.4 kilobits per second (kbps).
  • Red: this cable connects to a DDI mobile phone, with a maximum bit rate of 36.6 kilobits per second (kbps).
  • Green: this cable would have support PHS devices from Astel and NTT DoCoMo, but it was ultimately never released.
  • The blue-cable adapter connecting a mobile phone to a Game Boy Color

    The blue-cable adapter connecting a mobile phone to a Game Boy Color

  • The different cables as seen in a commercial

    The different cables as seen in a commercial

Mobile Trainer

The Mobile Trainer cartridge

Mobile Trainer (Japanese: モバイルトレーナー Mobile Trainer) is a cartridge which came packaged with the Mobile Adapter GB itself, developed by MissingLink, the parent company of Denyusha.[7] Prior to its release, it was previously given the tentative name of Mobile Starter Cartridge (Japanese: モバイルスターターカートリッジ Mobile Starter Cartridge).[8] The cartridge served as a general guide to the Mobile System GB, which included a help menu about how to use the service and a glossary of key terms. Under a mobile settings menu, the player was able to alter their registration details, and confirm their remaining balance.

When the player boots up the cartridge, a connection screen checks whether the Mobile Game Boy Adapter is connected. The software will progress past the loading screen only once connected to a compatible Japanese mobile phone. The cartridge offered an email system in which users could exchange text messages between each other. Another feature of the Mobile Trainer cartridge was access to the Mobile System GB homepage, which published featured articles around different compatible titles.

In the internal data of the Mobile Trainer ROM, graphics for Pokémon such as (but not limited to) Pikachu, Porygon2 and Tyranitar have been found, as well as a test message about an alleged 'Pokémon game' which was never released known as Pokémon Moss (Japanese: ポケットモンスター苔). The purposes of these graphics are unknown.

(Hidden Pokémon content covered in below video at 28:48)


By ChickasaurusGL


List of compatible software

Below is a list of all Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance software which supported the Mobile System GB.[9] Although five of these games (Pokémon Crystal, Napoleon, Top Gear GT Championship, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and ESPN Great Outdoor Games Bass 2002) were released outside of Japan, only the Japanese versions were compatible with the Mobile Adapter.

Title Console Developer Publisher Release date
Pokémon Crystal Version
(ポケットモンスター クリスタルバージョン Pocket Monsters: Crystal Version) 		Game Boy Color Game Freak Nintendo December 14, 2000
Mobile Trainer (モバイルトレーナー) Game Boy Color MissingLink Nintendo January 27, 2001
Monster Guardians (モンスターガーディアンズ) Game Boy Advance Mobile21 Konami March 21, 2001
Napoleon (ナポレオン) Game Boy Advance Genki Nintendo March 21, 2001
Play Novel: Silent Hill (プレイノベル サイレントヒル) Game Boy Advance Konami Konami March 21, 2001
Top Gear GT Championship
(全日本ＧＴ選手権 All-Japan GT Championship) 		Game Boy Advance Vision Works Kemco March 21, 2001
Doraemon: Midori no Wakusei Doki Doki Daikyūshūtsu! (ドラえもん 緑の惑星ドキドキ大脱出！) Game Boy Advance Mobile21 Epoch April 27, 2001
Mobile Golf (モバイルゴルフ) Game Boy Color Camelot Nintendo May 11, 2001
Morita Shōgi Advance (森田将棋あどばんす) Game Boy Advance Yuki Enterprise Hudson Soft July 12, 2001
Net de Get Minigames @100 (ネットでゲットミニゲーム@１００) Game Boy Color Mobile21 Konami July 12, 2001
EX Monopoly (ＥＸモノポリー) Game Boy Advance Mobile21 Takara July 13, 2001
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
(マリオカートアドバンス Mario Kart Advance) 		Game Boy Advance Intelligent Systems Nintendo July 21, 2001
JGTO Licensed: Golfmaster Mobile (JGTO公認 GOLFMASTERモバイル) Game Boy Advance Konami Konami July 26, 2001
Kinniku Banzuke ~Kongō-kun no Daibōken!~ (筋肉番付～金剛くんの大冒険！～) Game Boy Advance KCE Studios Konami July 26, 2001
Mobile Pro Baseball: Control Baton (モバイルプロ野球 監督の采配) Game Boy Advance Mobile21 Konami July 26, 2001
Starcom: Star Communicator (スタコミ STAR★COMMUNICATOR) Game Boy Advance Konami Konami July 26, 2001
Zero-Tours (ゼロ・ツアーズ) Game Boy Advance Amedio Media Rings July 27, 2001
Game Boy Wars 3 (ゲームボーイウォーズ３) Game Boy Color Hudson Soft Nintendo August 30, 2001
ESPN Great Outdoor Games Bass 2002
(エキサイティングバス Exciting Bass) 		Game Boy Advance Konami Konami November 29, 2001
Daisenryaku For Game Boy Advance (大戦略 For ゲームボーイアドバンス) Game Boy Advance SystemSoft Alpha Media Kite December 7, 2001
Mail de Cute (メールでキュート) Game Boy Advance Mobile21 Konami February 14, 2002
Hello Kitty: Happy House (ハローキティのハッピーハウス) Game Boy Color MTO MTO March 2, 2002
beatmaniaGB Net Jam (beatmaniaGBネットジャム) Game Boy Color Konami — Cancelled
Horse Racing Creating Derby (馬穴大作戦)[10][11][12] Game Boy Advance Nintendo — Cancelled

Similar devices

The Mobile Game Boy Adapter was not the first Game Boy peripheral offering online play. From as early as March 6, 1998, Hudson Soft's GB Kiss Link Modem allowed players to access downloadable content from the Internet and send messages between friends, through a number of compatible games which had built-in infrared ports, such as Nectaris GB, the Japanese versions of Robopon for the Game Boy Color, as well as the GB Kiss Minigames cartridge which came packaged with the GB Kiss Link Modem. The Link Modem was available through mail order.

References

  1. ↑ Iwata Asks - Personal Trainer: Walking (archived copy)
  2. ↑ Mobile Adapter GB Delayed - GameSpot (archived copy)
  3. ↑ Game Boy Mobile Adapter Delayed (archived copy)
  4. ↑ DMG/MGB/CGB： ゲームボーイ
  5. ↑ Low Numbers for Mobile Adapter GB - IGN (archived copy)
  6. ↑ モバイルシステムＧＢ
  7. ↑ ShadowFlare
  8. ↑ モバイルトレーナー
  9. ↑ モバイルシステムGB対応ソフト
  10. ↑ Horse Racing Creating Derby - IGN
  11. ↑ ファミ通.com ゲーム/馬穴大作戦
  12. ↑ Game Boy.com - Baketsu Daisakusen (Horse Racing Game)

External links


Communications media
Gen I Game Link Cable • Transfer Pak • 3DS Wireless (VC)
Gen II  Game Link Cable • Infrared • Transfer Pak
Mobile Game Boy Adapter • 3DS Wireless (VC)
Gen III Game Link Cable • Wireless Adapter • Dual-slot mode
Gen IV DS Wireless • Wi-Fi • Dual-slot mode • Infrared
Gen V DS Wireless • Wi-Fi • Infrared
Gen VI 3DS Wireless • Nintendo Network • Infrared • StreetPass • SpotPass
Gen VII 3DS Wireless/Switch Wireless • Nintendo Network
Infrared • Nintendo Switch Online • Bluetooth
Gen VIII Switch Wireless • Nintendo Switch Online
Gen IX Switch Wireless • Nintendo Switch Online


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